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The Oregon Convention Center in Portland, which hosts this month’s United Methodist Church quadrennial General Conference. Photo: Fcb981 via Wikimedia Commons.

JNS.org – The United Methodist Church (UMC) voted down four resolutions that called on the Church to divest from companies doing business with Israel.

At its May 10-20 General Conference in Portland, Ore., the UMC also voted—478 in favor and 318 against—to withdraw its membership, financial support, and staff participation from the “U.S. Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation,” a coalition encouraging boycotts of Israel.

“This one-sided political coalition’s website (www.endtheoccupation.org) reveals that its agenda includes seeking ‘to isolate Israel economically, socially, and culturally,’ and promoting ‘comprehensive divestment’ against Israel, while overlooking anti-Israel aggression,” stated the UMC petition that called for withdrawal from the anti-Israel coalition. “Blaming only one side while ignoring the wrongdoing of Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran will not advance the cause of peace.”

Roz Rothstein, CEO of the pro-Israel education and advocacy group StandWithUs, said, “By severing its ties with anti-Israel groups, the UMC has reaffirmed its role as an agent of reconciliation and peacemaking between Israelis and Palestinians.”

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Am Yisroel Chai The Nation of Israel Is One. Let us stand together against those who seek to denigrate the Torah

Yaakov

I suspect that boycott resolutions often pass because the opposition hasn’t invested the time and effort into formulating counter arguments. The zealots then win out.

There’s no problem in criticizing Israeli policies or activities when done in a constructive way (unless you’re in the Israeli cabinet or armed forces, in which case the axe falls on your head). But punitive, one-sided measures are totally inappropriate and reflect ingrained biases.